North Korea has expressed its warning to the US’s plan of putting missiles in South Korea could be a “reckless act” and lead to the “new Cold War” in the region on Wednesday, after its launches in last week.

The US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper in his visit to Japan on August 7 (photo: Reuters)

North Korea gave the caution on Wednesday about the intention of the US to place ground – launched, intermediate – range missiles in South Korea after the US Defense Secretary Mask Esper released the plan following the US’s withdrawal from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with Russia.

North Korean state news agency KCNA wrote “The U.S. pointed out that it is now examining a plan for deploying ground-to-ground medium-range missiles in the Asian region and South Korea has been singled out as a place for the deployment”.

It also warned “It is a reckless act of escalating regional tension, an act that may spark off a new Cold War and arms race in the Far Eastern region to deploy a new offensive weapon in South Korea”.

However, the South Korean ministry of defense had no confirmation about discussing with the US about the deployment of the US intermediate – range missiles in South Korea.

Moreover, KCNA blasted the renovation of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THADD) systems of the US in South Korea’s military places.

It said “It is a hard fact that the deployment of THAAD is pursuant to the U.S. strategy to contain great powers and hold supremacy in Northeast Asia, not the one for ‘shielding’ South Korea from someone’s ‘threat’”.

North Korea had a new warning to the US’s military activities in the region after conducting a series of short – range missiles tests in recent weeks to oppose to the military drills between the US and South Korea.

The North Korea’s reactions could affect to the future talks of denuclearization in Korean Peninsular with the US.

Reuters ( Van Nguyen )